Roller coasters ruled in 2013, as several California theme parks opened new high-flying thrill rides. This year, however, it's all about getting wet. On May 31, Tsunami Soaker -- a spinning teacup ride with water guns attached -- debuts at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Gilroy Gardens opens Water Oasis, a half-acre of H2O delights for young ones, in late June. Then there's Legoland's new Legends of Chima Water Park in the San Diego area, which opens May 24 to the delight of Lego lovers of all ages. And don't forget all the other water parks in our fair state -- such as the Raging Waters locations in San Jose, San Dimas and Sacramento as well as Waterworld California in Concord. While they aren't traditional amusement parks, these dedicated water parks offer plenty of splish-splashy fun. Here's our annual roundup of what's new and notable at California's top amusement parks:

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM

What's new: Discovery Kingdom is moving to a year-round calendar, which means that the thrill rides now won't stop once the cooler weather hits.

Of course, some attractions work best on a warm, sunny day -- such as the new Tsunami Soaker, which opens May 31. As one might expect, people definitely get wet on the Soaker, a spinning, interactive boat ride where passengers shoot water guns at each other. Up to six people ride in each vessel, which should result in some truly memorable water fights. Riders can use their water guns to drench innocent bystanders -- so, in other words, you might not want to stand too close to the ride unless you want to get wet.

Bargain alert: Save up to $20 per ticket when you pick the date you'll visit and buy online. Also, Six Flags is offering a monthly membership program, which provides the same benefits as a season pass. Memberships start at $5.19 per month.

On Memorial Day weekend in Vallejo, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will be unveiling its Tsunami Soaker ride. The Six Flags in St. Louis, shown here, already has the ride in which riders (and sometimes bystanders) get sopping wet. (Six Flags)

What's new: Wooden roller-coaster enthusiasts are still going for Gold -- Gold Striker, that is -- at Great America. The park's latest thrill ride, which opened last year, is a major hit. Billed as "the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California," Gold Striker soars as high as 108 feet and at speeds approaching 54 mph. The twists and turns are dramatic, but it's really the vertical descents -- the steepest of which is approximately 50 degrees -- that provide the greatest thrills.

Great America is also set to open "Aerial Ice Extreme," a new ice show featuring ice skating, aerial acrobatics and participants from TV's "America's Got Talent."

And, of course, there's the Boomerang Bay Water Park, which provides plenty of ways to get wet -- from the family-friendly Boomerang Lagoon pool to the three-story-tall Screamin' Wombat water slide.

Bargain alert: Buy online and save $25 on single-day tickets, when you purchase four or more tickets. Great America is also now offering a payment plan for season passes, which start as low as six payments of $14. All tickets include free admission to Boomerang Bay Water Park.

Details: Open May 18, 20-21, then daily starting May 24. Water park opens May 24. 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. 408-988-1776; www.cagreatamerica.com.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

What's new: It's time to go for a spin -- on Undertow, the Boardwalk's newest thrill ride. The spinning coaster, which opened in 2013, races along at speeds of up to 40 mph along 1,410 feet of track. Yet, it's not just the speed that gets you -- it's the way this coaster twists and turns that really provides the A-grade thrills. It even does a complete 360-degree spin, so you might want to limit the amount of cotton candy, corn dogs and other delights you consume before boarding this beast.

Undertow joins the Giant Dipper as one of the Boardwalk's marquee attractions. The classic wooden coaster is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

What's new: Kids can cool off this summer at Water Oasis, a half-acre attraction that features plenty of H2O-fueled family fun. Water Oasis has three main components -- Water Journey, Lagoon and Splash Pad -- that will allow kids to slide about in the lagoon, get soaked by giant flowers and play with water, while parents hang out on Adirondack chairs and sip lemonade. Yet, it's more than just fun and games -- Water Oasis was designed to help children learn how to conserve water while they play in it.

Of course, the park offers many other family-friendly attractions. It's also a great place for a stroll -- it's a horticultural wonderland of twisted trees and landscaped gardens made possible by tree lover Michael Bonfante.

Bargain alert: Save up to $20 on single-day admission when you buy online. Also, a season pass costs $39.99 (ages 3 and up) until Memorial Day.

What's new: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- aka, "The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness" -- is back in business at Disneyland. The ride, which originally opened in 1979, now has an enhanced audio system, upgraded track, new special effects and restored Rainbow Ridge Mining Town. All that should combine to make this ride -- on a "runaway" mine train -- more thrilling than ever.

Disneyland will kick off the summer season with a 24-hour, overnight celebration on May 23-24. Yes, that's right, Disneyland -- as well as California Adventure next door -- will remain open from 6 a.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 24. That should make for a very memorable Memorial Day weekend for Disney fans.

Bargain alert: Save money when you buy a Park Hopper ticket. Includes one Magic Morning early admission.

What's new: Cars Land, the huge new expansion that opened in 2012, is still driving much of the traffic to this companion theme park. So expect to see lines if you want to hang out with the Radiator Springs gang. Cars Land, which is based on the 2006 smash animated film "Cars," is one of eight themed areas at the park. Also make sure to take a stroll through Buena Vista Street, a "land" designed to look like Los Angeles in the 1920s.

Bargain alert: Save money when you buy a Park Hopper ticket. Includes one Magic Morning early admission.

What's new: Magic Mountain is roller coaster nirvana. It already has 18 coasters -- which is reportedly more than any other theme park in the world -- and plans to open its 19th in early summer. The newest edition will be the pint-size coaster Speedy Gonzales Hot Rod Racers, which will anchor a revitalized Bugs Bunny World. (Speedy will be the park's fourth kids' coaster, which is reportedly a record for U.S. theme parks.)

The bigger kids will want to head straight for Full Throttle, which opened last year. Full Throttle lives up to its name, hurtling passengers both on the inside and the outside of what's being called the world's tallest vertical loop, at 160 feet.

Bargain alert: Save at least $20 when you buy tickets online. Also, Six Flags is offering a monthly membership program, which provides the same benefits as a season pass. Memberships start at $6.09 per month.

What's new: This Orange County theme park is celebrating 30 years of Camp Snoopy and will make improvements to its classic Grand Sierra Railroad attraction. Set to reopen in early summer, the 180-passenger train will chug through six new scenes depicting Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang on a camping trip through the High Sierra.

This renovation follows a busy 2013, which saw Knott's Berry Farm open three new attractions in its Boardwalk section. The most appealing of the bunch might be the Coast Rider, which takes people along a 1,339-foot-long track designed to mimic the California coast, complete with harrowing twists and turns. But also check out the Surfside Gliders, where folks board two-person aircrafts and sail 28 feet above ground, and the Pacific Scrambler, which is designed to evoke traditional boardwalk fun.

Bargain alert: Knott's is the most reasonably priced of the SoCal parks. Online single-day tickets can be had for as low as $33 for kids and seniors; $39 general admission.

What's new: Join Gru and the crew on the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem 3-D motion-simulation ride. The adventure starts in the home of Gru (the villain-turned-hero in the "Despicable Me" movies) as riders are recruited to join his many minions. Let's just say that things don't go quite as planned during "minion training."

After the ride, visit the "Despicable Me"-themed Super Silly Fun Land, an all-new outdoor family play zone. For more thrills, check out Transformers: The Ride 3-D and the always popular back-lot Studio Tour.

Bargain alert: Buy a one-day ticket online for $92 and get the rest of 2014 free. Note: Blackout dates (holidays, most of July, and some of May, June and August) apply at this price. You are able to upgrade to add a visit on a blackout date or buy a no-blackout pass.

What's new: Opening May 24, the Legends of Chima Water Park is a major new addition to the Legoland empire. It includes eight areas, such as Cragger's Swamp (where guests can slide through the head of a massive Lego crocodile), the Lion Temple Wave Pool and Eglor's Build-a-Boat. There's also Explorers Forest, a lush, tropical forest area where the 15-foot-tall Gorzan the Gorilla lives, as well as the cozy Rhino Beach, which sounds like an ideal spot to relax in the shade. Chima Water Park is included with admission to the regular Legoland Water Park.

Also, don't forget that you can now stay overnight at this San Diego County park. Last year, Legoland opened a three-story, 250-room themed hotel with restaurants adjacent to the amusement park.

Bargain alert: Get five days at three parks -- Legoland California, Legoland Water Park (including Chima) and Sea Life Carlsbad Aquarium -- for $97-$107, the price of a one-day resort-hopper ticket. Or, save $15 and get a second day for free when you book seven days in advance.

What's new: The theme park is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a "Sea of Surprises." During this 18-month-long celebration, SeaWorld visitors will enjoy a variety of treats, including new shows, more up-close animal encounters and plenty of prizes being given away. The biggest surprise comes at the park's entrance, which has been completely transformed into a kind of undersea oasis. Dubbed Explorer's Reef, this "arrival experience" is said to be inspired by "waves crashing over a coral reef, as well as up-close encounters with marine life." Guests will now enter SeaWorld under a massive sculpture of a wave, which measures 30 feet tall and 100 feet long.

Also, its sister water park, Aquatica San Diego in nearby Chula Vista, is opening for its second season and introducing the new 375-foot, high-speed Taumata Racer water slide.